Court: New Orleans mayor can remain free during appeal

NEW ORLEANS- The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu can remain free while his overriding contempt of court appeal is being resolved.

The state Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a state judge "abused" his discretion when he denied a request to suspend his contempt of court ruling against Landrieu as the result of a decades-old legal dispute with city firefighters.

The high court instructed Civil District Court Judge Kern Reese to grant the appeal, which puts the threat of house arrest on hold while appeals courts examine the issue.

On Sept. 4, Reese said the mayor would have to spend weekends confined to his home because the city hadn't produced a suitable plan to pay $75 million, plus interest, owed to firefighters.